We Are All Angels

Hebrews 13:2

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

I have seen this theme used many times in art. We have all seen the TV show where someone is unaware of the real identity of a stranger and unaware that their true nature is being tested by this stranger. We have seen variations, sometimes it is where Christ returns in an unexpected form and is unrecognizable to the person to whom he appears.

The self righteous have no idea who this stranger is nor do the truly righteous. The self righteous treat him as they do everyone else usually with contempt. The truly righteous treat them as they treat others, with honesty, respect, compassion and righteousness.

This is what Paul is passing onto the Hebrews, be righteous and be righteous in your works. For we are all angels, servants of God just as it is written in Revelations 22:8-9:

I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”

It always sticks in the back of my mind, what about that down and out person I saw on the street begging for change, you know the one you go out of your way to avoid. Was it just someone down on their luck, someone who through a series of bad decisions or random happenings lost it all? Or was it an angel of God that I refused to even acknowledge and once again failed in my quest for righteousness?